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Radio Resources
Flat Microwave Phased Array
by Gordon West, WB6NOA |
A close up of a phased
array circuit board |
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Beaming signals in from a direct-broadcast satellite to watch your favorite TV movie in surround sound may be a fraction of what these geostationary satellites can do in their lofty 22,500-mile orbit above earth. As many as six geostationary satellites might have programming that will go well beyond just watching TV from a single satellite in space. Think about getting broadband Internet and multimedia satellite wireless communications off of several different satellites. Also consider the emerging technologies that will bring unprecedented efficiency to broadband data compression for audio, video, and multimedia with all six satellites with multiple beams aimed at multiple satellites simultaneously. While your handy-dandy, 18-inch dish and its associated LNB (Low-Noise Block) down converter have worked hard through wind and thunderstorms to stay locked onto that single satellite, the time is coming for new technology to put this parabolic reflector into motion for some dynamic satellite tracking. The recreational vehicle and maritime yacht market has indeed produced some outstanding in-motion satellite tracking antenna units hooked into your direct broadcast satellite or dish receiver system. KVH (<www.kvh.com>) has been a leader in this technology, offering five antenna configurations from 18- to 24-inch parabolas covered by a white fiberglass radome for unsurpassed satellite acquisition and in-motion tracking for any type of sea or rough road conditions. I have extensively tested their TrackVision LM compact, a 15-inch-high, 33-pound automatic antenna for motor homes, and it worked flawlessly throughout the United States and lower Canada. The antenna is a 12-volt DC parabolic dish with dual-LNB output and low-noise block converter with built-in preamp. A molded ABS radome encloses the base plate and is secured in place to your motor home with standard fasteners. The integrated receiver decoder receives satellite signals from the KVH antenna unit for signal decoding, processing, and channel selection, and then sends the signals to the TV set for viewing. Messages are sent from the integrated receiver decoder to the antenna unit and are then received from the antenna unit for display on the TV screen. The IRD (Integrated Receiver Decoder) also provides the interface for the user to activate authorization for reception. |
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